Speech
by
President Elias L. Warrak

At the
MOU Signing Ceremony with Bellevue Medical Center

9 May 2023
BMC Auditorium
Mr. Nayef Maalouf, President and CEO of Bellevue Medical Center
Dr. Ghassan Maalouf, Medical Director,
Dear Colleagues at the University of Balamand,
Esteemed Guests,

It is with great pleasure that we celebrate today the affiliation of Bellevue Medical Center with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Balamand as a training center for our medical students and residents. This affiliation marks a new era of collaboration and we are honored to partner with such a prestigious institution.

As the President of the University of Balamand, I take pride in the outstanding academic programs that we offer to our medical students and residents. Our Faculty of Medicine has a long-standing reputation for excellence, and we are committed to providing our students with the best possible education, and our residents with the best possible training opportunities. Today's affiliation with Bellevue Medical Center is a testament to that commitment.

As a training center, we are confident that Bellevue Hospital will offer our students and residents the access to state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technologies, allowing them to hone their skills and deepen their knowledge. We hope that this affiliation will provide invaluable opportunities for our students to gain hands-on experience in various medical specialties.

Accordingly, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the leadership of Bellevue Medical Center for their partnership and commitment to improving healthcare in our country, as it is badly needed in view of this unprecedented crisis that led to the loss of more than 30% of our qualified physicians.

We are thrilled to embark on this new journey together, aiming not only to improve the standards of medical training but also the quality of medical care offered to our patients.

I am confident that this affiliation will lead to remarkable achievements and contributions in medical education, research, and patient care. Together, we will continue to innovate, educate, and improve the healthcare standards in our community and beyond.

At the end, as we share the “belle vue” of the Balamand Hill, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and the “belle vue” of the Bellevue Medical Center overlooking our precious Beirut, I hope that we will share the same vision for a better healthcare sector in our beloved Lebanon.

Thank you.

عشتم وعاش لبنان